Convertible vehicle seat



G. G. JOHNSTON Nov. 1,5, 1927. 1,649,702

CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE SEAT Original Filed July 1'?, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l` Nov. 15, 1927.

` 1,649,702 G. G. JOHNSTON CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE SEAT Origixal Filed July 17. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @y (9. HM @M490 Patented Nov. 15, 1927'n Unirse STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GORDON GEORGE JOHNSTON, OF MORUYA, SOUTH WALESLUSTRALA.

CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE SEAT.

Application :filed July 17, 1924, Serial No."726,603, and in Australia November 14, 1923. Renewed August 18, 1927. A

This invention relates to improvements `in and connected with the seats oft touring motor-cars whereby the same can be readily andv conveniently converted to provide a couch that will attord comfortable sleeping acco1nmodation for one or more of the occupants oi the vehicles. y

Prior constructions ot convertible seats in motor-cars tor the purpose mentioned involve the pivotal or hinged connection to the body of the front seat-back, which is adapted to be downtolded into an approximately horizontal plane to occupy the space between the tront and tonneauseats andthus provide a three section mattress or couch. These constructions have not been completely satisfactory, due principally to the nonrigidity oil' the iframes oir' the convertible seats and the liability of connecting parts working loose and getting out o'l order owing to the vibration of the vehicles and to other strains transmitted under road travelling conditions. Y

According to my invention, a substantially rectangular opening is formed in the iframe of the forward seat-back, said opening'being disposed between theupper and lower cross members or rails ot said frame. Detachably iitted in said opening are two hingedly connected cushions, which are folded together and are covered at the front by detachable upholstery, while a hinged iiapfastened to the upholstery covers said cushions at the rear. The hingedly connected cushions thus ucconnnodated in the :frame of the front seat-back are adapted to be downwardly iolded and entended to co-operate with the liront and tonneau seats and provide a couch or mattress ot 'tour horizontally aligned sections. while the upholstery oi said seatback can be detached and rolled within said hinged flap to provide a comfortable pillow iforthe occupantswhen reclining in the car body. Bars are detachably aliixed to the seat trames to rigidly support the cushions when in couch arrangement, and the upper rail of the frame ot' the front seat is yremovable for greater convenience in giving access to the body when the seatsare converted.

In the drawings Figure l is a perspective view ot' a motorcar having the convertible seat v improvements, showing that the general appearance and normal arrangement of the seats and backs are in no way allected or altered.

Figure?. is a perspective view of the motor-car showing the seats and co-related integers converted to provide a couch or mattress in the car body.`

Figure 3 `is a longitudinal section4 of the motor-car body wherein the seats are converted to provide sleeping accommodation,` andr showing the detachable upholstery'and lap rolled to provide a pillow.

Figure d is a sectional view on an enlarged scale oi the front seat-back showing the hingedly connected cushions therein, the d-etachable upholstery and the hinged covering liap. Figure 5 is a rear perspective View of the iront seat-back, showing the covering flap raised to disclose the opening in the trame oit said seat-back. i A

Figure 6 is a liront perspective view ol the seat-baci; seenin [1`i`gure`57 showing tl1e"de tachable upholstery uplitted and disclosing the hingedlyconnected cushions.

Figures T and 8 are perspective views ot y metal bars and fittings for supporting the cushions when converted to the couch` ar-` rangement.

Figure 9 -is a view illustrating the construction otthe detachable upper rail of the trame `olf the seat-back, and means for rigidly maintaining the same in normal touring position. i i

The bach-rest frame l of the front seat of the motor-car has a substantially rectangular opening 2 between the upper and lower cross members or rails 3 and de, respectively, ot the said traine, and this opening is nearly the full width ot the car body.

tinugly and detachably litted in the opening 2 formed in the back-rest iranie `is a cushion :3,which is hingedly connected at 6 to a similar cushion 7 adapted to be upwardly folded and to. abut against the said cushion 5.

The cushion 5 is locked in upright position within said opening by sliding bolts 8 that are aliixed tothe upper rail 3, and adapted to enter holes .that are formed in the framing ot said cushion.

Upholstery 9 is detachably fastened by buttons lO totheupper sur-tace of the krail 3, and at its lower end by straps 11 that are passed through eyes l2 affixed to the lower rail l and adjusted by buckles l-see Figure 4;. Aiiixed to and depending from the upholstery of the 'back-rest of the forward 1; sition,

in` the car-body seat is a flap 14, which completely` covers the opening 2 and is detachably fastened tothe frame l by a series Oi' buttons 15.

The upholstery 9 normally holds the forward cushion 7 against the rear cushion 5, and when the integers of the back-rest'have been assembled, said back-rest has substantially the same appearance as those in `conventional seat constructions. i

.Theupper rail 3 `ofthe trame 1 has tenons 16` at its opposite ends adapted to be slidably accommodated in grooves that are formed in the upper end portions of the frame memberslf` of the front seats-back. Metal plates 18 having 'open ended slots 19 arelailixed to said `upper ail, and bolts or studs 2O are securedjto the iranie members and carry wing-nuts 21. V When` said upper rail ,is slid downwardly into its normal pothe slots 19 engage said bolts or studs, whereupon the wingnuts are tightened, thus maintaining saidnpper rail immovable.`

When it is desired to convert the seat-s to provide a couch for sleeping accommodation the ntonneau cushion 2 2, which ordinarily is oi greater width than that of the cushion 23 ot thefliront seat, is moved forwardly to occupy the spiace between the front longitudinal edge of the I back seat framing and theseatbacli of the forward seat, in whichposition its rear` portion rests` upon and ,is` supported by the ,frame of the tonneau seat-see Figure 3,

The remaining portion of said cushion is rigidly supported by two longitudinal bars 2% which are preferably constructed of T- Section metal and have at their rear ends studs 25 detachably fitting into holed brackets 26 secured to the `frame of the tonneau seat, while the forward ends of said bars have holes 27 to accommodate upstanding `pins 28 carried by brackets 2 9 tastened to theiranjie of the back-rest of the lfront seat of the vehicle.

` i The cushion `230i the front seat is now placed rearwardly ot' the cushion 22 upon the frame of the tonneau seat, and theupholstery 9 is detached and rolled within the ilap 1i to provide a pillow as is seen in Figure 3. 'z lhe hingedly connected cushions 5 and 'i' are released from the traine 'l of the back-rest of the forward seat and unfolded soithat the rear longitudinal edge of the cushion iis in abutment with the front longitudinal edge of the cushion 22.

The cushions 5 and 'Z' when unfolded cooperate with said cushions 22 and 23 to provide a four section couch or mattress, and they are supported in this position by longitudinal bars 3() of T4section metal, having at theirrear ends tongues 31 detachably engaging looped metal straps 32 iastenedto the lower cross member or rail 4: of the framing 1, while said bars 30 are furnished at their forward ends with hinged legs 33 adapted y ly-rectangular torestupon the floor of the car body and support the forward end ot the cushion T at a required elevation.

in lieu of the hinged legs ii-, the supporting bars 30 may be furnished with short props 3i adapted `to rest upon the front portion ot the iframe et the i'orward seat, but both the legs i3 and the props may be employed as is shown in Figure 3.

"lhelength of the legs 33 `(or oit theshort props Srl) and the location "of the brackets 26, 29 and 32 are such that when the cushions 22 23, 5 and 7 are placed in juxtaposition, they are approximately inhorizontal alignnient, thus providing a comfortable couch 'or mattress for sleepingaccomnnnlation lor oneor more occupants in the car body, such as has been tonnd desirable under camping conditions` or for emergency ambulance purposes, while the ready detachability ofthe upper rail 3 of the iiame ofthe back-rest of the front seat enables access to be conf veniently had to said conch or mattress. y y It will be understood that `when the seats and the seat cushions are in normal touring arrangement, the supporting bars 2a and 3() are detached from their (1o-related littings and are `pacliedftogether and 'suitably accommodated beneath the rear seat of the vehicle as is customarily done with tools and other motor-ear accessories or adj uncts.

It will be appreciated that the herein de scribed improvements can be embodied in automobile bodies in the course oi' their construction, but, moreover, may be applied to automobiles now already in use without requiring any structural alterations in the design and disposition oi' the bodies of suoli vehicles. y o

`What I do claim is l. A convertible vehicleseat, comprising a irame embodying connectedbackand side members, said baci; having a substantialn opening formed entirely through it, and horizontal top and bottom railsl located above and below the saine; a cushion unit 'consisting ot two cushions hinged together to enable thein to be folded back to hack and disposed within the traine opening, and to he unfolded and extended in alining relation into a horizontal position in which they project in opposite directions through and beyond` said opening so as `to jou lio

forniva couch or mattresssection, the top rail being removably mounted in the frame to enable its detachment when the seat is to be converted into a couch;' releasable means for normally locking said rail in place in said Jtrame; and covering means connected y to the seat frame and extending across the opposite `faces oi' the folded cushion unit when in place in said opening, but detachable from the traine to permit the unfold ing of said unit and the removal of said top y rail.

2. A Convertible Vehicle seat, comprising a frame embodying connected back and side members, said back having asubstantiallyrectangular opening formed entirely through it7 and horizontal top and bottom rails located above and below the same; a cushion unit Consisting oiitwo Cushions hinged together to enable them to be folded back to back and disposed Within the frame opening, and to be unfolded and extended in alining relation into a horizontal position in Which they project in opposite directions through and beyond said'V opening soas to form a couch or mattress section, the top rail being removably mounted inthe frame to enable its detachment When the seat is to be Converted into a couch; releasable means for normally looking said rail in place in said frame; and means for releasably retaining the folded cushion in place in said opening; if)

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GORDON GEORGE JOHNSTON. 

